We find evidence within the text of the Book of Mormon itself that Lehi’s group interacted early on with an existing culture. Within a few years time from Lehi’s landing in the New World, Nephi reports that his people “began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land” (2 Nephi 5:13). After about fifteen years had passed, he says that Jacob and Joseph had been made priests and teachers “over the land of my people” (2 Nephi 5:26, 28). After another ten years, they “had already had wars and contentions” with the Lamanites (2 Nephi 5:34). In 2 Nephi 5:14, Nephi describes his making of swords to defend his people, “lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us.”
According to Nephi’s reports, his group found animals and minerals as they “journeyed in the wilderness” from their first landing site (1 Nephi 18:25). These resources are valuable items which lead to trade and/or conflict. If the land of Nephi was in the pathway of native populations that might have already established trade and travel networks, then the Nephites might have somehow blocked the Lamanites in their travel and trade with these other native groups, which would have been sufficient reason for the Lamanites to start a war. If we assume a Mesoamerican setting, we find that the land of Nephi (area of Kaminaljuyu) was a main point on the Olmec (Jaredite?) trade route which swept down from Veracruz, Mexico past Izapa (a proposed landing site for Lehi and an area which falls within the description of the Lamanite land of first inheritance--see Alma 22:28), and along the Pacific coast of Guatemala until it climbed up into the mountain valley setting of Kaminaljuyu (see illustration). [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See 1 Nephi 18:23; 2 Nephi 4:12]
2 Nephi 5:34 We Had Already Had Wars and Contentions ([Illustration] This chart at La Venta, Mexico illustrates the migrations of the Olmecs from their heartland along the Gulf Coast. The Olmecs (Jaredites) were considered the “mother” culture of Mesoamerica and extended along the Pacific coast of Mesoamerica during the time period when Lehi would have landed. [Clate Mask, “And They Called the Place Bountiful,” p. 28]